Merton Council is planning to introduce a £1m vehicle scrappage scheme, helping residents replace cars that are not compliant with the expanding ultra low emission zone (ULEZ).

The scheme would be introduced in September, after ULEZ comes into force in outer London on 29 August.

Under the proposal, the council would grant £1,000 per vehicle to residents in more deprived areas that also have low public transport accessibility.

The grant, which would also be available to carers, would be provided as long as cars meet the Transport for London (TfL) scrappage criteria. According to TfL, more than 90% of cars driving in outer London meet ULEZ standards.

Council leader Ross Garrod said: ‘We need to clean up the air we breathe and part of the solution to that is moving away from using high polluting vehicles. But the cost of living crisis isn’t going away, and the Government is refusing to provide the support needed to help people scrap their cars – that’s why we are stepping in to provide this targeted support.’

London mayor Sadiq Khan has introduced a £110m city-wide scrappage scheme, and Merton is the first London borough to announce plans to fund its own.

Mr Khan said: ‘I praise Merton Council for launching its own scrappage fund to provide additional support to local residents, but it’s disappointing that the council is having to step in while the Government still refuse to provide any additional scrappage funding to London, even though it has done so for other cities implementing Clean Air Zones, including Birmingham, Bristol and Portsmouth.’?

The scheme is subject to approval by the council’s cabinet, which meets on 10 August.

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